SAYING that the vast majority of the 1.3-million drug surrenderees had a chance to secure quality education, Senator Win Gatchalian on Tuesday urged the Department of Education to pursue the integration of alternative learning system opportunities into government-run drug rehabilitation programs.
“I believe that inspiring recovering drug dependents with hope for a better future through education will strengthen their resolve to overcome their addictions. Hope is a powerful anti-drug,” said Gatchalian, who serves as vice chairman of the Senate Education Committee.
He noted that the drug personalities who have surrendered to authorities since July 2016 are poor Filipinos who were uneducated. Macon Ramos-Araneta
"Poverty drove them to drugs. Now, education can lead them away from temptation and help them get their lives back on track," Gatchalian said.